You are not the only one who got cabin fever with the recent pandemic. Staying inside for too much time without any physical exercise is not too good for a dog’s health.
If you want to keep your dog in good health and happiness, here are some fun games to play along with him.
#1. Use a Flirt Pole
Also known as a flirt stick, a flirt pole is a type of exercise equipment that consists of a long pole with a rope attached to the end and it is used to entice your dog to chase.
Why You Should Opt for a Flirt Pole:
- It is a great stimulating exercise that can help to keep your dog both mentally and physically fit.
- Fun exercise for high-energy dogs as just one session can tire them out.
- It is a fantastic way to let your dog use their natural prey drive in a non-violent way.
- You can use it in your favor as a practice for following commands, such as sit down, wait, take it, leave it and so on.
- And, to top it off, it might tire out your dog, but it doesn’t exhaust you at all.
Flirt Pole Rules:
- Your dog must lie down, look at you and wait for you to release the toy before playing.
- Your dog gets to chase only when you tell it to “take it.”
- From time to time, remember to let your dog win (even when it’s unable to catch the lure). By letting him win, you are encouraging him to play more, But if he is unable to win, he will be uninterested in the game.
- Try to change the direction every once in a while, so your dog isn’t running in one way only.
When to Avoid the Flirt Pole:
- It is strongly recommended to avoid this game if your dog has joint or mobility issues, as this game can aggravate his condition.
- Suppose you do not know your dog well. You cannot play this game, including quick changes of direction and jumping, with an unfamiliar dog.
#2. Play a Game of Hide & Seek
Suppose you went out on a hike with your pooch and suddenly you are separated from your dog. You looked for him everywhere but in vain. Scary isn’t it? Well, these are real-life circumstances that can happen to anyone. But, if you want to avoid this, a simple and fun hide and seek game might help you out.
Most of them love this game and many won’t get sick of it, no matter how many times they play it with you.
I suggest starting indoors. Have your dog “stay” while you find a nice hiding spot in any room in your house. Once situated, call out to your dog and let him use his natural scent tracking ability to find you. If your dog hasn’t a good “stay”, take the help of someone else to distract him as you hide. And, if he has many difficulties finding you, try the same hiding spot over and over until he grasped the idea of the game.
Practice and practice until he can find you within a few seconds. And, then you can bring the game outdoors. In this way, even if you and your dog get separated one day, he will be able to stay calm and find you using his doggy senses.
#3. Learning the Names of Toys
Did you know that as per some studies, a dog can have the same intelligence as a 2-year-old and hence can learn at least 200 words?
So, why don’t you go ahead and test the brain of your pup by teaching him the names of his toys?
Don’t think of it as a burden or as a routine task to play with your dog. Instead, when you spend time with your furry friend, aren’t you also having some fun?